Cleaning brush



G. V. EVANS CLEANING BRUSH April 18, 1933.

Filed June 20, 1932 Patented Apr. 1933 PATENT oFFlcE GEORGE v. EVANS, or CLEVELAND, onro, nssreno'nlro RUSHAWAY; mowers, iiidliR- PQRATED, or CLEVELAND, onro, A CORPORATION or OI-IIO cnnnmne BRUSH Application filed June 20,

This invention relates to a device for cleaning materials and particularly to a brush for effectively applying chemical cleaning liquids to the material or object to be cleaned. One object of the present invention is to provide a compact and durable brush having a reservoir for the storage of, 'the liquid cleaner from which the liquid cleaner may be fed freely to the brush bristles in regulated flow during the brush operation.

Another object is to provide a brush for this purpose in which the liquid is sealed so that the brush may be carried in any position when not in-use without spilling the liquid.

Another object resides in a simple and efficient liquid control valve for the control of the flow of cleaning liquid from the sealed storage reservoir to the brush bristles which in the brush.

valve may be easily assembled. and installed Another object is to provide such avalve which may be conveniently operated by the operator during the brushing operation.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent from the following specification where-in reference is made to'the drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a: longitudinal sectional vieW; of a preferred form of brush embodying the principles of the present'invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the brush illustratedin Fig. 1. r

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the brush illustrated in Fig. 1, the bristles of the brush being removed for purposes of clearness in illustration.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the brush taken ona planeindicated preferred form of the brush. embodying, the principles of the present invention is illustrated, and comprises ahojllow head 1, which maybe formed fofl'aliiminum or enameled metal or other material which will not, be deleteriously affected by the chemical used for cleaning. The head. comprises ajsolid top wall andintegraldepending side walls,-

the bottoinofjthe head being closed; byfla plug 2 in which arefniounted uniformly 1932. Serial no. 618,138.

spaced tufts of bristles '3. i

to the top wall;5 of the head, so as to'foi in with the wall 5 and side walls of the head a feed reservoir 6. V I In the plug 2 are a plurality of discharge ducts 7 which communicate with the" feed reservoir 6 and discharge eXteriorly of the plug 2. The duct outlets are evenly distrib; uted about the outer surfaceof the plug 12 and preferably are staggered longitudinally and laterally relative to thetufts 3. Mounted on the head 1 is a handle 8 which" may be formed integral with'th e'head and which projects laterally from the head, of sufficient distance to be grasped conveniently by the hand of the operator. v r

The handle 8 is hollow, the interior thereof forming a sealed storage reservoir 9 for storing cleaning liquid to be'used. In order that thereservoir 9 may be filled conveniently, one end of the handle is provided with a passage .which is sealed by a removable cap 10, the cap being threaded for engagement with the handle for effecting a tight sealin pres sure. To -render this seal more. effe'c' 'iveljan internal annular shoulder 10ais formed about from the end of the handle, and receive's an annular gasketfof cork, or othersuitable com;

.30 t g passa e 2. short distance inwardly 'pr'e'ssible material. This gasket maybe of great-er thickness than the depth of the shoulder and is compressed between the cap and shoulder to effect a tight seal when the cap is screwed into abutting engagement with the end of handle 8.

f The storage reservoir 9communicates with the feed or distributing reservoir 6 by means of a suitable duct 11. For convenience in manufacturea portion of the wall 5' anda" contiguous portion of the wallof the handle are thickened .to form an internal boss 12., through which the duct 11 may be. castfor drilled. The duct 1l.is sealed, preferably 7' at its, outlet,'as illustrated, by a valve disc 13. The disc 13'is operable from the outside of the body by an axially movable stem Mair diameter for its entire length and defining with the end wall of the smaller diameter bore 17, an annular shoulder 18. The stem 14 is provided near its outer end with an annular shoulder 19 for engagement with one. end of;

the coil spring 20, the opposite end of the spring engaging the shoulder 18. The innermost end of the stem 14 is taperedso as to pass freely through the bore 17 and to protrudeinto the feed reservoir 6. On the protruding end of the stem are mounted the disc 13 and, if desired, a stiff backing disc 21. The end of the stem is threaded to receive a nut 22 for securing the discs in place thereon. Thus the valve may be easily assemble d'by'inserting stem 14 and spring 20 into the bore 16 and, with the spring compressed, securing the valve disc 13 and backing disc 21 on the inner end of the stem. Consequently, in one step, an easily made connection retains the valve mechanism in place, the ste nand springcooperating to hold the disc 13 in sealing position and the disc in turn retaining the stem in operating position in the bore 16. Y

The stem 14 is preferably positioned to extend out of the body 1 close to the wall of the handle 8 and to slope inwardly at an angle to the plane of the head 1 such that the stem is in a position to be pressed inwardly by the thumb of the operator when the handle, is grasped in his hand and the thumb flexed inwardly in a natural and easy gripping manner.

l The duct 11 may be sufficiently large so as to permit a comparatively free flow of liquid into the reservoir 6. However, in order to render the flow more.pos1t1ve,'an a1r duct 23 is formed- 1n boss 12. The air duct 23 com- Inunicates with the reservoir 9 near the top or so that themouth of the duct is above the normal level of the liquid when the brush is in operating position. The opposite'end of the duct-23 opens into the feed reservoir- 6 in a position to be sealed by the valve disc .13 when; the disc is seatedffor closing the duct 11.v 1 r V f Unless the feed reservoir 6 is filled, sufficient air can enter the duct-23 therefrom to relieve the negative pressure in the storage reservoir 9 and allow liquid to flow freely from the reservoir 9 into the reservoir 6. If for any reason the reservoir 6 becomes ,l'loodecl and blocks the duct 23, further flow of fluid from the storage reservoir to the res 'ervoir 6 is substantially'stopped. However,

as soon as the level-in the distributing reservoir 6 drops a slight amount, more liquid can pass thereinto from the reservoir 9.

in the storage reservoir 9 will-be retained withoutleakage in any position of the brush.

In operation the brush handle is grasped in the usual manner, the thumb of the operator falling naturally into position on the valve stem 14 so that easy and accurate operation of the valve can be effected by clinching the hand more tightly about the handle in a natural gripping manner. Upon unsealing of the valve, liquid is passed into the reservoir-6 in sufficient quantity to meet the requirements of the particular rate of cleaning. This liquid passes downwardly from the reservoir6'through the ducts 7 and is uniformly distributedthereby to the tufts of the bristles at their respective bases.

'As the brush is moved in short strokes across the surface tobe cleaned, the bristles flex, and upon relieving the pressure bypar the lower or cleaning ends of the bristles.

During the stroke, the liquid at the lower ends of tliebristles has picked up foreign matter and this flexing action of the bristles continually throwsout the used cleaning liquid and foreign matter; Fresh liquid isfed continuously onto the bristles from above, thus rendering the bristles self-cleaning. due to the stiffness of the-bristles and the even distribution of the liquid thereto, as the brush movesa-long'in contact with the surface to be cleaned sothat the bristles are continually flexed and reflexed, fine mist of cleaning fluid over and adjacent the surface being brushed is created. t

Experience has shown that in cleaning fabrics with a device such as herein described, grease, dust and foreign matter are effectively removed and the usual spottedappearance resulting from saturation of'the material with cleaning liquid is, eliminated.

Furthermore, the use of such a brush more eff prising a hollow body, bristles secured there in and extending outwardly thereof, said body having ducts communicating with the interior anddischarging exteriorly of the body and onto. the bristles, a handle sur mounting said body and extending longitudi- Also,

nally therefrom and adapted. to be gripped V in the handof an operator, a reservoir within said handle for storing cleaning fluid, a duct communicating the reservoir with the interior of the body, said body extending laterally from said handle and forming an exposed upwardly facing wall at one side of said handle, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said duct, a stem'for operating said valve, said stem extending exteriorly of the body through said upwardly facing wall and being in position for engagement by the thumb of the operator while the handle is grasped in the operators hand, said stem being moved for operating the valve and positioned for movement consequent upon normal fiexure of the thumb of the operator in the direction when the hand and thumb are flexed for more firmly gripping the handle.

'2. A brush for the purposes described com prising a hollow body, bristles secured therein and extending outwardly thereof, said body having ducts communicating with the interior and discharging exteriorly of the body and on to the bristles, a handle surmounting said body and adapted to be gripped in the hand of an operator, a reservoir within said handle for storing a cleaning liquid, a duct communicating the reservoir with the interior of thebody, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said duct, a stem receiving bore through one wall of said body, said bore being disconnected from the reservoir, a stem reciprocable in said bore and extending exteriorly of the body at the side of the handle in position for engagement by the thumb of the operator while the handle is grasped in the operators hand, said. stem being movable for operating the valve, and positioned for movement consequent upon normal flexure of the thumb of the'operator in the direction for gripping the handle. a

8. A brush for the purposes described comprising a hollow body, bristles secured therein and extending: outwardly thereof, said body having ducts communicating withthe interior and discharging exteriorly of the body and onto the bristles, a handle on said body adapted to be gripped in the hand of an operator, a reservoir within said handle for storing a cleaning liquid, aduct communicating the reservoir with the interior of the body, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said duct, a stem receiving bore through a wall of said body, said bore being disconnected and spaced from the reservoir and from said duct, a stem reciprocable in said bore and extending exteriorly of the body and being positioned for engagement" by the thumb of the operator while the ham dle is grasped in the operators hand, said stem being movable for operating the valve and positioned for movement consequent upon normal flexure of the thumb of the operator in the direction for gripping the han dle.

4. A brush for the purposes described comsignature.

rior and discharging exteriorly of the body and on to thebristles, a handle on said body and adapted to be gripped in the hand of an operator, a reservoir withinsaid handle for storing a cleaningliquid, a duct communicating the reservoir with the interior of the g body, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said. duct, a stem receiving bore through one wall of said body, said bore being disconnected from the reservoir and I spaced therefrom, a stem reciprocable in said bore and extending exteriorly of the body and being positioned for engagement by the thumb of the'operator while the handle is grasped in the operators hand, said stem being movable for operating the valve and positioned for movement consequent upon normal fiexure of the thumb of the operator in the direction for gripping the handle.

5, A brush for the purposes described comprising a hollow body, bristles secured therein and extending outwardly thereof, said body having ducts communicating with the interior and discharging exteriorly of the body onto the bristles, a handle on said body adapted to be gripped in the hand of an operator, a reservoir within said handle for storing cleaning liquid, a feed duct communicating with the reservoir and with the interior of the body, a borecommunicating with the interior of the body and with the outside, said bore being entirey disconnected from the reservoir at all times, a valve within the body for controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir through the feed duct and into the interior of the body, a stem for operating said valve, said stem being disposed in said bore and extending exteriorly of the body and handle'and being positioned for operation by' the hand of the operator while the handle'is grasped thereby.

In testimony whereof, I hereuntoafiix my a GEORGE v. EVANS. 

